Sen. Mark Warner (D., Va.) hedged Sunday on whether he believed President Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey was done to interfere with the Russia investigation, saying his action "lends to that appearance."
Warner, the Senate Intelligence Committee vice chairman, had said at Thursday's hearing that it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that the firing was related to the FBI investigation into alleged Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. He called it "truly unacceptable."
"Senator, I have a straight question for you," "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace said. "Do you believe the president fired Comey to interfere with the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the election and a possible link to the Trump campaign?"
"The president's actions and his statement lends to that appearance," Warner said. "Now, I don't know what fully was in the president's mind, but I do know this. This Senate Intelligence Committee is going to pursue this investigation to wherever the intel and facts lead us, and I was reassured a bit when I heard that acting Director McCabe said not only does he have enough resources, but that he will also pursue the investigation wherever it leads."
Wallace pushed Warner after he did not fully commit to his earlier statement, asking if he believed Trump is trying to interfere with the probe in light of McCabe telling Congress that no effort has been made to impede the investigation.
Warner said he felt reassured by McCabe's statement.
Trump contradicted earlier White House statements that firing Comey was done on the recommendation of his Justice Department, saying Thursday he was going to terminate Comey "regardless" of any such recommendation. He also said "this Russia thing" was on his mind when he did it, calling it a made-up story.